Device for determining an angular position

ABSTRACT

A device ( 1 ) for determining an angular position of parts of a convertible roof, which can be swiveled against one another, the device ( 1 ) comprising an electrical or electronic determining instrument ( 5 ) with a housing ( 6 ), which is connected with the first part ( 3 ) of the folding top, and a controller ( 7 ), which can be rotated to relative to the first part ( 3 ) of the folding top and is connected to the second part ( 4 ) of the folding top, which can be swiveled relative to the first part ( 3 ) is constructed so that the connection ( 10; 11 ) of the housing ( 6 ) with the first part ( 3 ) of the folding top of and/or the connection ( 12; 13 ) of the controller ( 7 ) with the second part ( 4 ) of the folding top is constructed as a movable connection.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The invention relates to a device for determining an angularposition of parts of a convertible roof which can be swiveled againstone another.

[0002] A flexibly constructed convertible roof has a supportingstructure with links, which can be swiveled against one another in theside region of the roof and of which one may immobile with regard to thebody of the vehicle or both of which may be movable with respect to thebody of the vehicle. Mechanical links or similar control or drivingagents, by means of which the roof can be opened or closed, are alsodisposed in the side region of a roof, which comprises partially orcompletely rigid roof parts.

[0003] It is desirable to determine the instantaneous position of theroof in its opening and closing movement or also in its end position, inorder to obtain input data for the exact course of the control of theroof movement by means of this information. By these means, an exactsynchronization of the driving mechanisms, assigned to the sides of thevehicle, can be accomplished. By means of the input data, the course ofmotion can be adjusted instead of strictly controlled. For this purpose,the determination of the angular position of parts of a roof, which canbe swiveled against one another, is known.

[0004] Especially in the case of textile convertible roofs, the linkssupporting the folding roof may twist, so that there are not only astrictly swiveling motions of these links with respect to one another,but also components of motion, acting transversely hereto during theopening and closing of the roof. As a result, it is more difficult todispose angle-measuring instruments, which are connected at one end withone link and at the other end with the link, which can be swiveled withrespect to the first link. The mutually moving parts may tilt and theelectrically conducting annular contact surface of a variablepotentiometer, for example, may be damaged. Moreover, the accuracy ofthe measurement is affected. It is an object of the invention to providean improvement thereof.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:

[0005] Due to the inventive mobility of the connection between a foldingtop part and the housing/or the controller, interfering movingcomponents of the pivotable parts of the folding top can be interceptedwithout affecting the device.

[0006] When a variable potentiometer is used to measure the angularposition, an inexpensive detection possibility is created, which can berealized with standard, serial components.

[0007] If a cantilever arm extends particularly advantageously from thehousing as well as from the controller in the direction of the foldingtop link, the latter can be connected simply at its outwardly pointingend with the link.

[0008] Particularly advantageously for the accuracy of the measurementand for the mechanically secure holding of the detection instrument, oneconnection is constructed movably and the other (the housing or thecontroller) is constructed immovably.

[0009] To compensate for tolerances, it is particularly advantageous ifthe connection is movable in the longitudinal extent of the pivotablepart and transversely to the plane of pivoting. This can be realizedeasily, for example, over a peg, which can be guided in asliding-block-guide.

[0010] Further advantages and details arise out of an example of theobject of the invention which is described in the following and shown inthe accompanying drawing.

IN THE DRAWINGS

[0011]FIG. 1 shows a diagrammatic representation of a convertiblevehicle with an inventive device with the aligned orientation ofmutually pivotable parts,

[0012]FIG. 2 shows a representation, similar to that of FIG. 1, with theangular orientation of mutually pivotable parts,

[0013]FIG. 3 shows a section along the line II-II in FIG. 1, and

[0014]FIG. 4 shows a plan view of the device of FIG. 2, truncated in themiddle region.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0015] The embodiment, represented in the drawing, shows a device 1,which determines the angular position of two parts 3, 4, which can bemutually pivoted about a swiveling axis 2 and are connected with afolding top. For this purpose, a variable potentiometer 5 is provided,which comprises a housing 6 and a controller 7, which can be rotatedtherein. Instead of a variable potentiometer 5, other electrical orelectronic detection instruments also come into consideration, such asan optical detection device, equipped with a light-emitting diode, anexpanding, annular sliding-blockguide and mutually oppositephotoelectric cells. A strictly mechanical angle-measuring device isalso possible.

[0016] The housing 6 is connected over a first cantilever arm 8 and thecontroller 7 over a second cantilever arm 9 with the part 3 or 4, whichis constructed as a link. Parts 3, 4, as well as the cantilever arms 8,9 may consist of a suitable solid material, such as steel. By swivelingthe parts 3 and 4 against one another about the swiveling axis 2, thecantilever arms 8, 9 are carried along, as a result of which there isrelative movement between the controller 7 and the housing 6 of thevariable potentiometer 5 and, with that, there is a change in anelectrical signal, which gives a measure of the angle between the parts3, 4. The cantilever arm 8 of the housing 6 is connected immovably byscrews 10 as well as a knob 11, which prevents rotation, with the link 3at the folding top. On the other hand, the cantilever at 9 of thecontroller 7 is connected movably with the second link 4.

[0017] Conversely, instead of this allocation, the controller 7 may alsobe connected movable and the housing 6 movably with the lease 4, 3.Under special conditions, the controller 7 as well as the housing 6 canbe connected movably with the respective link 4, 3. In the latter case,at the very least, the danger exists that the accuracy of measurement isreduced. However, this can be counteracted by an appropriate structuraldesign.

[0018] As can be seen in FIG. 4, the cantilever arms 8, 9 are extendedlongitudinally and constructed to be parallel to the respective link 3,4. In the example, the cantilever arm 9 comprises a sliding-block guide12, which extends in the longitudinal direction of the link 4 and whichis engaged by a peg 13, which is disposed at the link 4. The connectionbetween the link 4 and the cantilever arm 9 therefore is movable in thedirection of the longitudinal extent of the link 4 (in the direction ofthe arrows 15, 16). Moreover, it is movable transversely to theswiveling plane 14, that is, in the direction approximately parallel tothe swiveling axis 2.

[0019] If the sliding-blockguide 12 is overdimensioned, the cantileverarm 9 can also be moved transversely (in the direction of arrows 17, 18)transversely to the extent of the link 4. However, this mobility must bekept small so that the angle measurement results are not distorted.

[0020] In the example, the peg 13 does not provide security againstpulling off, so that even greater twisting of the parts 3 and 4 relativeto one another does not lead to a force, which would tilt the controller7. The cantilever arm 9 can be lifted from the peg 13.

[0021] The variable potentiometer 5 used is a standard variablepotentiometer, which can be used without changes and therefore ensuresthat the device 1 can be manufactured inexpensively.

[0022] Instead of an attachment to the links 3, 4 of a flexible foldingtop, an attachment to two-dimensional or voluminously extendedcomponents, which swivel against one another, also comes intoconsideration.

[0023] The variable potentiometer 5 is connected to a control system,for courses of movement of the roof, and supplies electrical inputsignals for this purpose.

What we claims is:
 1. A device (1) for determining an angular positionof parts of a convertible roof, which can be swiveled against oneanother, the device (1) comprising an electrical or electronicdetermining instrument (5) with a housing (6), which is connected withthe first part (3) of the folding top, and a controller (7), which canbe rotated to relative to the first part (3) of the folding top and isconnected to the second part (4) of the folding top, which can beswiveled relative to the first part (3) wherein the connection (10; 11)of the housing (6) with the first part (3) of the folding top of and/orthe connection (12; 13) of the controller (7) with the second part (4)of the folding top is constructed as a movable connection.
 2. The deviceof claim 1, wherein the detection instrument (5) is a variablepotentiometer.
 3. The device of one of claim 1 or 2, wherein thehousing, for connecting (6) as well as the controller or (7) with therespective past (3; 4) of the folding top a cantilever arm (8; 9)extends parallel to the latter.
 4. The device of one of claim 1 or 2,wherein the parts (3; 4), which can be swiveled against one another,have a longitudinal extent pointing outward from the swiveling axisconnecting them and the conviction (10, 11; 12, 13) between the housing(6) and/or the controller (7) can be moved in the direction of thislongitudinal extent.
 5. The device of claim 4, wherein the connection(12; 13) can be moved transversely to the plane of swiveling.
 6. Thedevice of one of claim 1 or 2, wherein the movable connection (12; 13)is formed by a peg (13), engaging a guiding sliding block (12).
 7. Thedevice of one of claim 1 or 2, wherein the peg (13) is formed free of apulling-off security for the controller held thereon or for the housing(6).
 8. The device of one of claim 1 or 2, wherein the device comprisesa standard potentiometer (5) constructed as a serial component.